PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA - Date, Date PalmMonoecious. This tall evergreen, unbranched palm from the Middle East can grow to 100'. It grows well in the Imperial Valley of Southern California. The trunk is covered with fibers, is surrounded from the ground upward with the base of earlier formed leaves. The end of the leaf fronds are needle sharp. The fruit is a drupe with one seed. When ripe, the fruit is a dull yellow and the flesh is soft and buttery. When dried, the skins of the fruit darken. Propagated by seed, but generally by suckers taken from the base of the plant.